§ 155.244  ILLUMINATION.
   (A)   Signs shall be illuminated only by steady, stationary, shielded light sources directed solely at the sign, or internal to it, without causing glare for motorists, pedestrians, or neighboring premises.
   (B)   All exterior illumination shall be shaded so as not to project onto adjoining property or thoroughfares.
   (C)   Direct exterior illumination and internally illuminated signs shall avoid the use of glaring undiffused lights or bulbs that could distract motorists.
   (D)   No signs shall be illuminated by the use of flashing, moving, or intermittent lighting.
   (E)   Illuminated signs shall not produce more than one foot-candle of illumination measured four feet from such signs.  Illumination levels shall be certified through signed plans, elevations, sections and details from a licensed electrical engineer as employed or retained by the sign company.
   (F)   Electronic messaging. Signs in the B-1, B-2, B-3, TC and MI districts may include electronic messaging, provided that the following standards are met. Signs in the R-1A, R-1B, and R-1C may include electronic messaging signs on lots with buildings of greater than 3,000 square feet.
      (1)   The maximum area of electronic messaging shall be half the total area of the sign in which the electronic message board is placed.
      (2)   Copy change shall be no more frequent than once per eight seconds.
      (3)   Glare shall be reduced and/or minimized in such a manner as to maintain an appropriate level of contrast during the day. To reduce driver distraction at night and light trespass into residential areas, an automatic dimmer shall be installed to control brightness. The maximum brightness of the sign shall not exceed 10,000 NITs. At night, the sign shall be set to no more than 10% of its maximum brightness.
      (4)   Motion, animation and video. Video display, animation, flashing, whirling, fading, dissolving transitions, or any other type of motion are prohibited.
      (5)   When text is displayed, the background behind the text must be a solid color, for the purpose of ensuring that the text is readable. Images are permitted, provided that no text is displayed in front of them.
(Ord. 792, passed 12-3-01; Am. Ord. passed 2-20-17)